People & Places

BEST TWINS PLAYER Minneapolis 2007 - Johan Santana

Readers' Choice: Joe Mauer

With a change-up that's baffled more Twins opponents than any pitch since Blyleven's curve, and a pinpoint control that would do Jim Kaat and Brad Radke proud, Johan Santana is the ideal lefty strikeout machine, and the numbers he puts up make everyone else in the majors look feeble: Last season, he notched 245 strikeouts to Reds runner-up Aaron Harang's 216, rang up a 2.77 ERA to National League leader Roy Oswalt's 2.98, and was the only pitcher in the majors to average less than one base runner per inning. Best Twins Player? He may be the best player in baseball.